Drive means for rotary rod weeders



Nov. 15, 1949 v. F. BOZEMAN ET AL DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTARY ROD WEEDERS 5Shets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 2, 1944 INVENTORS V/RG/L FBOZEMA/V Nov. 15,1949 v. F. BOZEMAN ET AL. 2,488,265

DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTARY ROD WEEDERS Filed Dec. 2, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N V EN TORS V/RG/L F BOZEMA/V HOWARD F CLAUSE/V Nov. 15, 1949 v.FBOZEMAN ET AL DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTARY ROD WEEDERS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 FiledDec. 2, 1944 INVEN TORS V/RG/L F BOZEMAN ,I ARDF CLAUSE/V v Nov. 15,1949 v. F. BOZEMAN ET AL 2,413,265

DRIVE MEANS FUR ROTARY ROD WEEDERS Filed Dec. 2, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN VEN TORS V/l-PG/L F. BOZEMAN WARD F CLAUSEN av. 15, 1949 v. F. BOZEMANET AL 2A88,265

DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTARY ROD WEEDERS Filed Dec. 2, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR VIRGIL F. BOZEMAN WARD F. CLAUSEN TORNE YS Patented Nov. 15,1949 UNITED" STATESiii: PATENT oFerc-Ei 2,488265 DRIVE MEANSFOR ROTARYRoi) WEEnERs Virgil Boze'man and Howard F} Glausen, lVIoline,"- f sIll.,-assign'ors to Deere & Compan-y, Mollne, 111.;

a corporation of- Illinois Application necemberaien,serial No: 566,297

21 Claims; (01.9742) The present invention-relates generallyto rodweeders and other-agricultural-:.implements and is moreparticularlyconcerned with new and im proved driving connectionstrom aground wheelof the rod weeder to'the-rotary-rod thereof. More 5specifically it is-a feature' of this invention'to provide driving meansthat is practically entirely enclosed and has no projecting parts andthe like that'are apt to gather trash aiid the like; Further, it isafeature of this invention to provide a weeder lo rod drive thatincludes; a-pair of enclosed bevel gearhnits and associated-shaft meanswhereby theme of exposed chains and othe r moving partsis entirelyeliminateds- Another feature of the presentinventio'r'i is the-"provision ofan improved weeder rod drive which not only providesexceptionally good clearance but, in addition, may rea'dily bev adjustedduring manui-acture orotherwisegto accommodate dif ferent positions ofthe-weede'r rod with 'r-espeet' to the-rod weeder framefiand -anothei'---featnl'"-e of the present invention is-the" provision of dr ivingconnections which may rea'dily'he moved froin one side-oi therodweed'erto the-other,-as maysometimes be desirable in caseaiarinerdesires to hitch two'rod weeder's togetherginwhich case itis-preiferahle to have-onedriven iroiid the right side and theother'drivenf'rom the'left side so that there is no strip of groundiinworlied betwe'e'n the two implements.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention-will beapparent to' those skilled in the art after a considerationoftheiollowing detail ed .1 deseription taken in commodore-wan theaccompanying drawings id-which th'e preferred form-of the' in'ventionhasbeen; illiistrat'e'di In the drawings: Figure l is aplan view ofa"rodweeder infwhich-"'- the principles-of the presentinventionhav been"incorporated. J 40 Figure 2 a section-taken" generallyf' along the -2of'Figi'ire 1, showing the{drive*from the gro rid wheel to the firstgearbox;

Figure 3'is a side'- view, taken g'eneraliy along e-33 of Figure I F1.are 4 a detailvieWishowing theroekihg connection between the "rearg'earloox 'itsi" support-on the rod'weederfraineji 'igure @be'ing' a viewtaken"generallyelon'g'the"line of Figure '1" Figures 5 and '6 "are side.view's" siiowiiig thej mannerin which the driving connections ."of thepresent inventiorf accommodate diife rent"posi-" 2 or inalow position,with respect to the rod'we'e'der frame:

Figure? is a View similar-to -Figure l and'shows' an optionalarrangement --of the driving connec tions.

Figure-8 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the dust collar"forthedriving wheely Figure 9 is a detailed view showingtheniisalignment accommodating means incorporated in the drive'from therear-gear bo'x'to the'weeder rod.-

Figure 10 isa" diagrammatic view illustrating 3 the-two positions ofthehanger'brackets' on the framebf the weederr Referring now to thedrawings particularly Figuresl and 3,-the frame 1 otthe 'rod wee'd'er'comprises" a front angle-t and a rear angle-3* extending transversely ofthe machine and connectedtogetl'lerat theirends by 'rightand leit endbars-- 3 and Preferably, each of the end bars is made up of a pairofangleswelde'd'togther alongtheir contacting edges toforr'n-a box beam,and each" end haris' extended reaiwarsiy a con siderable distancehacker-time "rear frame angle 3 and atits en'd'receiv'es'aspindle-casting lfeajch 1 of wmehis provided with a vertical-sleevesection" 8 forminga'bearingin' which the'-verticalspihdle= section 9 ora wheel standard I llis dispo'sedi' The lower'end of the latter memberis 'bent s'oa's to forma wheel 'r'eceiving s'ection ll on-"which atransport wheel I2 is journaled'forrotation,"'the standard Ii] being soformed-"thatthewheel {l2 casters. A hand-lever'rack l5,-having a capsection l6 receiving the upper'endof the spindle" is mounted on each ofthe wheel standards" [0 and has pivoted thereto a hand lever IT,thie-ehd of which is connected by a link sateen anchoringclip [9whiohencircles an upper 'portion' of the associated casting l and isrotatable withresp'ect thereto but restrained against'displacement in alevers I?! into difieren'tverticalpositiohsserves to raise or lower therear portion ofthe fr arne with respect to the rear trz-ins'port"wheelsl2. f

The frame I is reenforeed byapluralityof cross braces "2i, and a pair ofdepending hitehangles 22 is bolted to the forward face or the frontangle 2, the hitch angles ZZ'beingre'enfOrCedby a pair of rearwardlyextending br'ace'sZS and apai'r of laterally upwardly extending braces24 bolted to the front and. rear frame angles as shown in- Figures 1 and5. A hitch frame 21 is pivoted,

above.

1 49. Also forming a part of the frame is a plurality position or alower position, the axle is merely 3 as at 28', to any one of a seriesof openings formed in the hitch angles 22 and comprises a pair ofrearwardly diverging angles '28 and 29 connected together at theirforward ends and apertured to receive a clevis 3| that may be attachedto a tractor or the like for propelling the implement. The rear portionsof the angles 23 and 29 are reenforced by a cross brace 32. The frame Iis supported on a pair of ground wheels 35 and 36 and the transportwheels 12 mentioned The ground wheel 35 (Figure 1) is i mounted forrotation on the outer end of an axle 38 that is connected with the frameI by laterally inner and outer hanger brackets 39 and of pendant beams53, each of which is bolted 4 is apertured, as at 68, to receive a pinor bolt 69 by which the casing is secured to the axle 48. The laterallyinner wall ll of the gear box 65 is provided with a tubular section 12of larger diameter, adapted to fit over a cylindrical section 73 formedon the wheel box 6 I there being a flange M on the wheel box to preventinward displacement of the gear box with respect to the wheel box.Axially outwardly of the cylindrical section 73 of the wheel box 5I is agear receiving section l6 which,

in section, is non-circular, having diametrically disposed flattenedsections TI and I8. A set of both to the front and rear frame angles 2and 3,

respectively, and each beam at its rear end is formed with a downwardlyand forwardly extend-- ing pendant section A l in which a weeder rod 55is journaled for rotation, 'as by means of con-- ventional weeder rodbearing shoe units 46. The

hanger 4i] referred to above is bolted to the pendant beam 43 that isfixed to the right ends of the frame angles 2 and 3, as shown in Figurel.

Theother ground wheel 35, constitutes the driving wheel and is mountedfor rotation on a laterally disposed axle 58 that is connected to theframe I by a pair of axle hanger brackets 49 and;5I. The hanger bracketBI is bolted, as at 52, to the side of the end frame bar 4 and the otherhanger bracket 49 is bolted to the forward portion of the adjacentpendant beam 43. Each of the hanger brackets 39, 45, 49 and BI areprovided with two sets of openings 53 so that the axle hanger bracketsmay be bolted to the frame I either in a high position or in a lowposition whereby the depth of penetration of the rod weeder shoes 46 maybe varied. In the case of the hanger brackets 59 and 5|, the two sets ofopenings 53 are not symmetrical but are arranged, v as best shown inFigure 10, so that when adjusting the brackets from one position to theother, the portions that rotatably receive the axle 48 are displacedlongitudinally such a distance that, in a casing 65, the gear 19including a hub section 82, the interior of which is formed so as to fitthe non-circular section 16 of the wheel box BI. The gear 79 is slidableinto position on the section 16 andthe wheel box has a shoulder 83 upagainst 7 -which the gear is adapted to be disposed, and in thisposition the gear I9 engages a boss 85 that is formed on the laterallyinner wall 'II of the gear caseing. A wheel box collar 81 is disposedabout the axial 48 between the outer end of the wheel box 6| and theadjacent outer wall of the gear casing, serving thereby as a spacer toprevent inward displacement of the gear casing with respect to the wheelbox. The laterally outer end of the wheel box is provided with a pair ofdiametrically arranged recesses 9i and 92 in which inwardly directedlugs 93 and 94, formed on the wheel box collar 81, are adapted toengage. The

lugs 93 and 95 are flat, and the notches 9| and 6'2 are formed in asimilar manner, whereby the collar 81 is constrained to rotate on theaxle 48 with the wheel box. The collar Bl serves as a lock to preventthe gear 79 from being displaced I axially of the wheel box in anoutward direction with respect thereto, and the engagement of the gearI9 with the laterally inner Wall of the gear box or casing 65 preventsany laterally inward I displacement of the gear I9 on the wheel box.

. the axle hanger brackets 49 and 5E by means of a I tance from theweeder rod 45. The purpose of thisarrangement is to provide for changingthe position of the hanger brackets without interfrom the edge of thering 91 a distance, as indifering'with or affecting the drive from thewheel 36 that is carried by the axle 49 to the weeder 7' The axle 48isprevented from shifting axially in plurality of set screw collars 68.The laterally outer main bracket 5i is provided with a dust collar 96associated therewith in detachable relation. The dust collar 96comprises a ring-like member 9? secured, as by welding or the like, to

a yoke or bracket 98 which is apertured, as at 99,

to receive the axle 48. The bracket 98 is spaced cated'at I66,sufilcient to receive the bracket 5| therebetween, as shown in Figure 8.

The gear casing is provided with a rearwardly extending tubular sectionI65 in which the front end of an intermediate Shaft ms is disticularlyconcerned with a new and improved 7 form of driving connection betweenthe drive wheel 36 and the weeder rod. Referring first to Figure 2, theaxle 58 is extended laterally outwardly beyond the outer axle hangerbracket EI and receives a wheel box '6! in the form of an posed forrotation. The gear 80, which meshes with the driving bevel gear I9, isfastened to the forward end of the shaft I96 by a key or the like andpreferably is held against axial displacement outwardly of the shaft bymeans of a cotter key ID! or other suitable means. The rear 7' end ofthe intermediate shaft I06 is received in elongated tubular memberhaving at its inner a tubular section I09 of a rear bevel gear housingH0 which contains a rear set of bevel gears III andv H2. The gear I IIis fastened by means of a key or the like to the rear end of theintermediate shaft I06 and is held in place by a cotter key H3 or othersuitable means whereby axially outward displacement of the gear withrespect to the shaft is prevented. The two gear casings 65 and H0 areconnected together by a pair of telescopically associated tubes H4 andH5. The

forward tube 1 I4 is provided at its forward end arse-26.

with arsaw cut or. slit 116, this being, the portion;-

the provision of-;a lubricant;fitting I [9 screwed into the tubular.portion;;lpll5 f the-gear-case55 so as to lubricate the bearing .at theforward:

end-10f the intermediate shaft .1 06.; Preferably,

a arin bushing,- ZI uppo t for rd end of the shaftllflfi in thegear-case 6 5. The-rear end of the intermediate shaft 106 is supportedin the rear gear case -in: a;sim ilar manner." The companion telescoping:tube II' is of -a diameter to be received within the rear portionofithelarger tube I I4 and at itstrear, end is. ,provided with a saw cut ;orslit-{-24 and a tube -;clamp .126 bypwhich the rear en d of the smallertelescoping tube-J 5 ay be amp d :to the forw r ly extending tubularsection I59 of therear gear case III]. with an opening 12'! to receivealubricantfitting I 28 for lubricating --the. rear., end of theintermediateshaft I06.-; ,Also disposed -about thesmaller telescopingvtube l I5+is a ;-clarnp. -I3I which .is adapted to .frictionally engagethe tube?! I5 and to be disposed ,up again stpthe rear end of the largertube II4. It-willberemernbered that the gears Mandi II are preventedfrom being ;dis-

placed axially outwardly of the 1 intermediate shaft I 96, and, byproviding meansto prevent the tubes .I I4 and-I I5,- which arefixedrespectively to the front and Qrear gear casing 5 6 5 and'llll,

two gear casings 65 and III) are firmly andpositively held imposition,yet;by-vir,t,ue.-of the fact that one of the tubes is disposedwithimtheother, the rear gear easel I0 may rotate with respect to the other caseabout the axi pf the interme diate shaft I06.

The final drive shaftdsindicatedingits,entirety by the referencenumerabliifi andinclude a l w er section I38 connected by a universaljointvl49 1. to the weeder rod-45 and;a;short uppersection I39 v(Figure9) received'by'suitable bearingsmeans. within a tubular-huborextension3.6501111711951'831 The gear 3 I I2 preferably is :keyeda gear caselIll. 7 to the shaft section;gl3,9;and;hel;d in .place by. a cotter I31.

I52, and are looselylreceived within a square tubular part I53. RivetsI54 extendthrough -enlarged-holes in thesquaredportions -I5I,' I52-.-

By, virtue: of this construction a-slight'amount of misalignment of therear-gear case ll'n'and ing clamp I45 is'oonnected to the supportingbracket-I49.- The clamp I45. encircles the tubular extension .I35;of thegear box .I I0 'andisprotube clamp I- I I sis The .rear'end of ,the'tube I5;is provided A washer 1 I 46 is- Welded to: the shaft section I39and bears againstthe end .of the-hub..- 136. The adjacent ends of' theshaft :sections. I38 and I39:are squared, as indicated at :I5I: and.

from .being forced one ;;inwardly of :the 1 other, the

videdx with an elongated :slot; I 41 ;:by sWhiCh 1a @1111 bricantfitting M8 is accommodated: 1

The operation of; the implement; is as follows: When a tractor orother-;sourc e;.;ofpropelling power is hitched at 3| to the implement,;:theip sage of the machine over the ground rotates the drive wheel 36which, in turn, drives the intermediate drive shaft I96 through thegears I9 and I ;and the rotation of the intermediate drive shaft I 06drives the final drive -shaft l35 -through I the rear set of bevel gearsIII and H2.

In some cases the machine may be required'to have, or the farmer maydesire to install, extra clearance beams 244 which will dispose theweed-' er rod several inches lower with respect to the frame I, and thedrive-connections of the present invention are especially constructed toaccom-- modate this change.- First, longer idler axle brackets '39 and49 and longer main axle brackets 249 and 25I areinstalledinvplacefof-the brackets I 39, MAE land 5i soas to-dispose the-axles 38;and 1 48am increased distancefrom the planeof the frame I correspondingto the increased vertical dimension :of the highrclearance beams orpendants 244. After theilongerbeampendants are;

installed and the rod:'45 inserted gin the, weeder rod bearing shoes ofthe longer -pendants,:,a-rear gear case supporting bracket 149ais-substituted:

for the supporting bracket 14.9 (Figures 5 and-'6).

However, nochange need be madeinthedriving; connections exceptatosubstitute-- a somewhat longer intermediate drive shaft-3| 99119-(Figure 5) for the drive shaft I96 (Figures 3 and-, 6);-and tomake .thenecessary readjustment-betweenT the tubular sections II4;and "I I 5,as-by-loosening-the clamp I3I and extending the telescoping sleeves II4and H5 (compare the-positionof-thcse parts in Figures 5 and- 6);.pendant beams the'dri-ving connections; are angled downwardly to arsomewhat greater degree, as established by the longer supportingbracket I4lla, this new position-of the drivingconnections beingaccommodated bythe swinging ofthe drive unitasawhole aboutthe axisofthemain axle 48 and bythe slight-.amount-of :rocking required betweentherear gear casing llllzand the supporting clarnp I45.-- The slotI4I'(F;igure "4) is; providedso as-to accommodate this slight amount ofrelative rocking'movement between: the rear;

gear. casing I ll] andthe bracket clamp I 45;

The drive wheel 36=and its axle 48,:together with the drivingconnections "to the weeder rod, are shown in Figure lat theleft'side ofthemachine. However, as shown in Figure '7, these parts may be mounted"at the right side of the. machine by interchanging the wheels=35:and:35'i

and their associated parts, Inorder to effect this interchange, it maybe necessary to change the positions ofthebeams- 43 and;=the end-framemembers 4 and 5. When-making this winterchange, the hanger brackets :49and 5| or 249 are, for all practical purposes,'entirely enclosed andthere are no low hanging .parts to catch};

trash and the. like.

While we have shown anddescribed above the preferred structure in whichthe principles of the present invention have 7 been .inco17-porated,=-itis to be understood that our invention i not tO'ibfigfl limited to theparticular details shown z-and= de'-.

'With the :highwclearance scribed above, butthat, in'fact, widelydifferent means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspectsof our invention.

' What we claim, therefore, and'desire to by Letters Patent is: v

1. A rod' weeder comprising a wheel supported frame, a weeder rodrotatably carriedthereby, an intermediate generally longitudinallyextending drive shaft, a bevel gear set for driving said shaft from oneof said wheels, a second bevel gear set driven from the rear end of saidshaft, shaft means actuated by said second bevel gear set for drivingsaid weeder rod, and bracket means car- S e cure ried by the frame andextending generally downwardly therefrom for supporting said secondbevel gear set and the outer end of said shaft means. p

2. A rod weeder comprising means serving as a frame, supporting wheelstherefor adjacent the forward side of the frame, a weeder rod carried bysaid frame adjacent the rear side thereof, a bevel gear casing supportedon one of said wheels and having bevel gears therein, one of which'isdriven from said wheel, an intermediatesshaft supported at its forwardend in said bevel gear casing and receiving said other gear of saidbevel gear set, a bevel gear casing at the rear of said longitudinallyextending shaft, a set of bevel gears in said second casing, ashaftjournaled at its upper end for rotation in and supported'at itsupper end by said second casing and operatively connected atits innerend to rotate said weeder rod, and means rearwardly of said supportingwheels for supporting said second bevel gear casing and the outer end ofsaid shaft from said frame.

3. A rod weeder comprising means serving as V a frame, a pair of wheelconnected with the forward portion of said frame means, one of saidwheels constituting a drive wheel, an axle car ried by said frame meansand receiving said drive wheel, a bevel gear case supported on saidaxle, a bevel gear set disposed in said case, one of said gears beingconnected to said wheel, a generally longitudinally extending shafthaving the other bevel gear fixed to the forward end thereof, a secondbevel gear case receiving the rear end of said longitudinally extendingshaft, a set of bevel gears in said second case, one of said gears beingfixed to the rear end of said longitudinally extending shaft, a finaldrive shaft having its laterally outer end journaled for rotation insaid second bevel gear case, tube means fixed to said gear cases, thefront end of said tube means being supported through said first gearcase by said axle, bracket means connected with said frame andoperatively supporting thev rear end of said tube means and said secondgear,

case, and a weeder rod carried by said frame means and operativelydriven from the laterallyv inner end of said final drive shaft.

4. A rod weeder as defined in claim 3, further characterized by a pairof brackets receiving said axle, bolt means carried by said frame, andtwo sets of openings in each of said brackets for receiving said boltmeans, said sets of opening substantially the same distance from theweeder ro'd, whereby the drive from said drive wheel to said weeder rodis unaffected by changing the position of the wheel and axle relative tothe frame. V

'5. A rod weeder comprising a frame, wheel and said frame rearwardly ofsaid wheel, an intermeaxle means at each side of the: frame adjacentthe; forward portion thereof, bracket means for connecting said wheeland axle means with said frame, the bracket means at one side of theframe, together with the associated wheel and. axle means, beinginterchangeable with the bracket means and the associated wheel and axlemeans at the other side, a weeder rod rotatably supported by said framemeans, and driving connections between one of said wheels and saidweeder rod, including supporting means for carrying a portion of theweight of said driving means from said frame, said supporting means andsaid driving connections being shiftable with the associated drive wheelto the other side of the frame when said wheel and axle means areinterchanged.

6. In a rod weeder having'a drive wheel, a relatively stationary axlereceiving said wheel with a portion of the axle extending laterallyoutwardly beyond said wheel, and a weeder rod disposed I rearwardlythereof, weeder rod driving means comprising a casing having awheel-receiving opening at its inner side and an axle-receiving sectionat its outer side', a generally longitudinally extending intermediateshaft extending rearwardly and downwardly and extending at its forwardend into said casing, a bevel gear set disposed within said casing andconstructed and arranged for driving said intermediate shaft from saidwheel, tube means enclosing said intermediate shaft and secured at itsforward end to said casing, and bracket means carried by the 7 frame ofsaid rod weeder for supporting the rear wiportion of said tube means andacting through the latter to restrain rotation of said casing with saidwheel.

7. A rod weeder comprising a generally transversely arranged frame,wheel and axle means ,interchangeably connected with the ends of saidframe, a weeder rod carried by said frame in depending relationshiprearwardly of said Wheel and axle means, a casing-supporting bracketdetachably connected to said frame at one end thereof, one of saidwheels constituting the drive wheel for the rod weeder, a casingsupported by the axle of said drive wheel, a set of bevel gears disposedin said casing, one fixed to said wheel,

an intermediate shaft having-its forward end 'journaled for rotation insaid casing and fixed -rear casing, one being fixed to the rear end ofsaid intermediate shaft, a final drive shaft having its laterally outerend journaled for rotation in said second casing and receiving the otherof said second set of bevel gears, and means for connecting thelaterally inner end of said final drive shaft with said weeder rod, saiddrive wheel,

shafts, casings, said detachable support being removable from one end ofsaid frame with said drive wheel and adapted to be attached to the otherend of said frame whereby the drive for prising a first bevel gearcasing supported by said wheel, a second bevel gear casing supported bydiate drive shaft journaled for rotation in said casings, each of thelatter having a set of bevel gears therein and, one gear of each setbeing fixed to the ends, respective y, r "said intermed ate shaft, afinal drive shafthaving its'laterallyout'er "end 'Journaled for rotation{in the rear casing,

means for connecting the rear casing'with the.

ing the rear casing'eithe'r mom or tlie'otlie'r of its'positions. H

9. In a rod weeder having wheel supported frame means and, optionally,"rod-supporting pendants of different lengths was to dispose the rod ina high 'or a ldw po'sition with respect to said frame, drivinginechanismfor s'a'idfrod for actuating the latter from one of the supportingwheels, cdmprisingi'a first gear casing supported axiallyof saiddrivingfwheel, a'secohd gear casing disposed generally 'rarwardly ofsaid casing, 'gearin'g disposed said casings, respectively, shaft meansconnecting said g'ea'ring telescopi'cally associated to illar membersconnected, respectively, to said "casings, and surrounding said shaftmeans, said tubular members accommoda'ting rotation 'offon e casing withrespect to the other about the axis of said shaft means, a final driveshaft carried by the rear casing and connected with said weeder rod,said final drive shaft moving with said rear casing about the axis ofsaid shaft means when the rear casing is turned in one direction or theother toaccomrnodate the high or low disposition, relative to the weederframe, of said weed" rod, and bracket meansfor supporting the r casingand,'the associated ends of said shaft eans fand final drive "shaft fromsaid rod weeder frame. I v

V 1 he invention set forth in claim 9, f urthjer characterized by saidfirst casing, together with the associated shaft means, casing; tubularmembers and final drive shaft being swing'a'b'le in a generally verticaldirection about the axis of said drive wheel, and means for supportingthe rear casing and associated parts from said frame rearwardly of thedrive wheel in either an upper or a lower position with respect thereto.

11. Driving mechanism for an agricultural implement or the like having arotatable driving part, comprising a first gear casing mounted forswinging movement about the axis of said driving part, a pair of bevelgears therein, one of said gears being connected to be driven by saiddriving part, a driving shaft having one end journaled for rotation insaid casing and connected with the other gear therein, said lastmentioned gear engaging said casing and connected with said shaftwhereby axial displacement of the latter relative to the casing in anoutward direction is restrained, a second gear casing in which the otherend of said shaft is journaled for rotation, a pair of bevel gearsdisposed in said second gear casing, means connecting one of said lastmentioned gears with said other end of said shaft, said last mentionedgear engaging said second mentioned casing so as to prevent movement ofthe latter relative to said shaft in said one direction, a pair oftelescopically associated tubular members connected, respectively, withsaid casings, means connecting said tubular members so as to preventmovement of said casings toward one another, and driven means drivenfrom the other gear in said second casing,

12, The invention set forth in claim 11, urther gcha'racterized by themeans connectingsa c {tilbula'r members accommodating rotation of the ofsaid casings with respect to the othe'r'about the 'axis'of said shaft.

' 13. Drivingmeans for an agricultural. implement or the like having arelativlyfstationfary axleand a drive wheel rotatable thereon, saiddriving means comprisinga casin "fixed tothe end'of said axle and havingan inner, bearing portion receivinga portion of said wneera'ge r in saidcasing non-rotatably mounted on said wheel portion and bearing axiallyagainst the'adjacent part of said bearing portion, said wheel portionhaving a shoulder receiving said fgear,

' and 'means disposed within said casing for hol ding said gear inposition with respect to said wheel portion and engaging the wallof'sai'd casing opposite said bearing portion for preventing axialdisplacement of said wheel portion with ct to said casing. 4, Drivingmeans for an agricultural implement or the like having a relativelystationary axle and a drive wheel rotatable thereon, said driving meanscomprising a wheel boxrotatably mounted on said axle, a gear casingconnected to the outer end of said axle and'rec'eivingfthe outer end ofsaid wheel box, "said wheel being secured to said wheelbox inwardly ofsaid cas g, a gear disposed withi saidcasing in .non rotatablerelationwith respect to the end of the wheel box within said casing, means forholding gear onsaid wheel box and againstlone side of said casing, andmeans acting against the other ls'idje of said casingfo'r preventingaxial displacement of said gear within said casing 'tdward'said otherside thereof. 7 p I 15. Driving means for an agricultural implement orthe like having a relatively stationary axle and a drive wheelrotatablethereon, said driving means comprising a'wheel box rotatably mounted onsaid axle, a gear casing connected to the outer end of said axle andreceiving the oute'r'end of said wheel box, said Wheel'being secured tosaid wheel box inwardly of said casing, a gear disposed within saidcasing in non-rotatable relation with respect to the end of the wheelbox within said casing, and a collar disposed about said axle at theouter end of said wheel hub and non-rotatably engaging the latter forholding the gear in position thereon, said collar serving to preventlaterally inward displacement of said casing toward said gear.

16. The invention set forth in claim 15, further characterized by theouter end of said wheel box having a pair of diametrically opposedflattened lugs and said collar having a pair of lug-engaging sectionsand disposed about said axle at the outer end of said wheel box with thelaterally outer face of said collar disposed against the laterally outerwall of said casing.

1'7. A rod weeder comprising a generally transversely disposed frame, atransversely disposed weeder rod rotatably carried thereby, a supportingwheel at each end of the frame one of said wheels constituting a drivewheel, means for mounting said wheels interchangeably at the ends ofsaid frame, whereby to dispose said driving wheel optionally at one sideor the other of the weeder, means for supporting said weeder rod on saidframe in two optional positions with the end thereof adjacent the drivewheel spaced inwardly from the end of said frame, and an enclosed bevelgear drive for driving said rod from said drive wheel, comprising a unitincluding a 18. The invention set forth in claim further characterizedby'a drive axle receiving said drive wheel and disposable with thelatter at either end .of said frame means for mounting the forward partof said drive unit on the outer end of said drive axle, and meansaccommodating relative movement between forward and rearward parts ofsaid drive unit to provide for disposing the 1 laterally inwardlyextending shaft inwardly toward the weeder rod in either position ofsaid I drive 7 unit. l

19. Driving means for an agricultural imple- I vjournaled forrotationinthe rear casing, a air of telescopically associated tubular sections,one

I fixed to eachof saidcasings, respectively, and surrounding saidintermediate drive shaft one ment or the like having a relativelystationaryaxle and a drive wheel rotatable thereon, said ldriving meanscomprising a casing fixed to the end of said axle and enclosing aportion of said a wheel, a bevel gear set in said casing and including agear disposed against one, side wall of the casing, means for lockingsaid wheel portion to said gear. so that thellatter acts to preventrelative axial movement between the casing and -wheel portion inonedirection, and means acting against the opposite side wall and saidwheel portion for preventing relative axial movement between the casingand wheel portion in the opposite direction.

20. In a rod weeder having a drive wheel, frame ,means, and a weederrod, rod driving means comprising a first gear casing supported :by saidwheel, a second gear casing supported by said frame rearwardly of saidwheel, an intermediate drive shaft journaled for rotation in saidcasings, each of the latter having a set of gears therein and one gearof each set being fixed to the ends, respectively, of said intermediateshaft, a final drive shaft having its laterally outer end of saidtubular sections being rotatable relative to the other to accommodateacertain amount of rotation of one casing withrespect to the other anddisposing the rear casing in different positions relativeto said firstcasing, and meansladjustably connected with said second casing forsupporting the latter from said frame means in different positions. H

21. In a rod weeder having a drive wheeLframe means, and a weeder rod,rod driving means comprising a first gear casing supported by saidwheel, a second 'gear casing supported by said frame rearwardly ofsaidwheel, an intermediate drive shaft journaled for rotation in saidcasings, each of the latter having a set of gears therein and one gearof each set being fixed to the ends,

,respectively, of said intermediate shaft, a final drive shaft havingits laterally outerend journaled for rotation in the rear casing, saidcasings being arranged for relative rotationone withrespect to theother, and means adjustably connected with said second casing forsupporting the latter from said frame means in different positions.

VIRGJL F. BOZ EMAN. HOWARD F. CLAUSEN- REFERENCES CITED a The followingreferences are of record in the file of this patent: e 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 523,266 Cochran July 17, 18941,051,619 Mustin Jan. 28, 1913 1,316,625 Lumm Sept. 23, 1919 1,614,356Foot Jan. 11, 1927 1,718,503 VanPatten June 25, 1929 2,176,541 Morris..l Oct. 17, 1939 2,322,328

Tuft June 22, 1943

